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This study found no evidence that the use of narcotics or benzodiazepines to treat discomfort after the withdrawal of life support hastens death in critically ill patients at our center. Clinicians should strive to control patient symptoms in this setting and should document the rationale for escalating drug doses.
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Early identification of individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, has become increasingly important within the past decade as advances in therapy, including drug treatment as well as minimally invasive revascularization therapies, have enabled physicians to alter the course of disease and achieve significant improvements in patient outcome.
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Johnson & Johnsons (J&J; New Brunswick, New Jersey) blockbuster mid-December offer to purchase Guidant (Indianapolis) for a whopping $24 billion will, if completed as planned, be the biggest-ever deal in the medical device sector, as well as the largest acquisition for healthcare products maker J&J in its 118 years of existence.
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Two companies reported new developments in their high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) programs for the ablation of cardiac tissue, specifically atrial fibrillation (AF) one on the surgical side and another in the catheterization laboratory.
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Arrhythmia Research Technology (ART) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Micron Products (both Fitchburg, Massachusetts), reported the completion of the consolidation of the recently acquired New England Molders (NEM) division into the newly renovated section of its Fitchburg facilities.
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CardioGenesis (Foothill Ranch, California), a developer of surgical products used in angina-relieving transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) and per-cutaneous myocardial channeling (PMC) procedures, reported in the latter part of December a foray into new territory with the launch of the CelleratOR system for the point-of-care preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma.
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Pacemakers that pace the hearts upper and lower chambers are more expensive than the standard devices but they are worth the extra cost, according to a study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association (AHA; Dallas). The dualchamber pacemakers save significant money because they reduce the risk of hospitalization and disability in patients with heart disease.
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David Garrison has been promoted from chief financial officer to executive vice president of finance and CFO for Arrhythmia Research Technology (ART; Fitchburg, Massachusetts). ART, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Micron Products, produces silver plated sensors and distributes metal snaps for manufacturers of disposable ECG electrodes and Microns NEM division manufactures injection molded products for medical, electronic, industrial and consumer applications.
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